NAILTALES IMMERSIVE

Nail art & the work of 11 techs has been celebrated in an innovative exhibition in New York City. ALEX FOX explores the vision, accompanying book & talent behind the works

A.I.R Gallery in Brooklyn, New York City, opened ACRYLICS: Hidden Sculptural Art, an immersive exhibition in collaboration with Vision Creative Group (VCG) that ran from 10 February to 10 March.

Curated by multidisciplinary artist & creative director, ICECOLD, it showcased the complex world of nail art via sculptural, editorial and sonic storytelling. Motivated by an obligation to tell the story and history of nail art through a broader lens, ICECOLD explains: “My initial intent was to highlight elements from black culture and reposition how they are discussed and perceived. I wanted to take back the narrative defined for Black Americans and reclaim nail art and extensions for what they are: wearable and sculptural art media.

ICECOLD

“I aspired for ACRYLICS to become the standard reference and marker for nail art history, discovery and inspiration.”

The exhibition presented a surreal interpretation of the manicure experience, where red artificial hands extended from the gallery walls, weaving together narratives from diverse nail artists. Each artist contributed their voice and unique creative perspective, transforming the space into an immersive salon where exhibition attendees embarked on an exciting nail appointment experience.

“I wanted to shed light on nail artists, since their role in fashion, music and beauty is almost secondary,” cites ICECOLD. “I was keen to create the stage for the stories of nail artists to be told, and to showcase how the nail art medium is nuanced in its emergence into various cultures.”

ICECOLD’s creative vision permeated every aspect of the ACRYLICS installation, from its meticulous design and curation to the intimate writing and creative development of the companion coffee table book. Through captivating visuals and storytelling, the book traces the dynamic history of nail art, exploring its global origins, evolution through American history and the creative contributions of Asian immigrants and Black Americans who have helped shaped the art form.

The book features a foreword by me, Alex Fox, in which I offer insights into nail art as an evolving art form.

I was naturally thrilled to receive the invitation to write this and be acknowledged as ‘a significant contributor to the global evolution of the nail industry’, through my roles as co-founder of Scratch and global director of Nailympia Competitions.

It came as a surprise and filled me with excitement, as I familiarised myself with this project to provide it with the utmost promotion and support.

Featured nail artists in the exhibition and book are Stephanie Kao, Lesly Arrañaga, Alexis Auer, Jalen Dominique, Parvee Perry, Melissa Samuel, Sky Somalia, Momoka Takahashi, Marbles Valdez and Aja Walton. They share their perspectives via nail expressions within the ACRYLICS salon, and 35% of all book sales go to these artists and production personnel.

Adding further dimension to the project, ICECOLD has produced ‘Red, Please’, a sonic experience that captures the essence of each story within the book and takes exhibition viewers on an auditory journey with the displayed nail art.

“The ACRYLICS exhibition and book marked my 10-year anniversary in NYC, where I came to live from a small town in Ohio to pursue a dream,” ICECOLD shares. “I’m truly thankful that each artist trusted me to showcase their work and tell their stories.

“I hope viewers are inspired to think outside of the box and launch their ideas following the exhibition. With anything that I create, I want people to see themselves in it and pull what they need to spark their imagination and creative possibilities. The ACRYLICS installation was the start of many, so I hope viewers stay for the evolution.”

Scan Scan here to order the theACRYLICS book by by ICECOLD

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@icecoldvision @acrylicsworldwide